Hair Integration Assembly

ABSTRACT

A hair integration assembly includes a resilient mesh band extending substantially laterally about the wearer&#39;s scalp and a plurality of longitudinally-extending resilient mesh bands. A multiplicity of extrinsic hair strands are fastened to and extend outwardly from each of the mesh bands. The laterally-extending mesh band and the longitudinally-extending mesh bands are fastened together such that the wearer&#39;s natural hair can be drawn from within openings formed between the mesh bands, thereby enabling the extrinsic hair extending from the mesh bands to be integrated with the wearer&#39;s natural hair. The assembly can further include one or more lengths of elastic material fastened to one or more of the mesh bands. The lengths of elastic material are capable of securing the assembly to the wearer&#39;s scalp, thereby providing more comfort and flexibility to the assembly, and to accommodating different head sizes of wearers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair augmentation. In particular, thepresent invention relates to an assembly for integrating hair obtainedfrom an extrinsic source with natural hair extending from a wearer'sscalp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although not the exclusive market, the target market for the presenthair integration assembly is women with fine and/or thin hair.Conventional hair integration designs are formed with hair obtained froman extrinsic source attached to braided strands or cables that arearranged close together in a network, thereby making it difficult topull a wearer's natural hair through the hairnet-style cable networkwithout damage. Another problem with conventional cable-based designs istheir tendency to look unnatural. The present design addresses theseshortcomings by replacing the cables with mesh strips preferably formedfrom nylon. Elastic material can also be integrated with the mesh stripsto provide more comfort and flexibility to the assembly, and toaccommodate different head sizes of wearers. In the present design, thesize the shape of the openings or interstices between the mesh strips issufficiently large that the wearer's natural hair can be pulled thoughthe openings more easily than in conventional hairnet-style designs. Inconventional hair integration designs, the wearer's natural hair can bedamaged as a result of being pulled through openings as small as 1/16inch to ½ inch wide. The present design also enables the assembly to beremoved from the wearer's head more easily and safely than inconventional designs.

One company, Fashion World Enterprises, Inc. of Niles, Ill., offers ahair integration unit called the Reprieve. This patented design (seeU.S. Pat. No. 5,992,424) attempts to overcome the problems associatedwith conventional hair integration designs by using a fulltop-of-the-head cap with side panels only made from polyurethane. Thisunit covers the entire top of the wearer's head and would only be ofvalue to those women who have diffused hair loss or alopecia. Inconventional hair integration designs, the size, shape and spacesbetween the cables are often varied but none of these conventionaldesigns affords the same advantages achieved by the present hairintegration assembly, which employs interconnected laterally-extendingand longitudinally-extending mesh bands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One or more of the shortcomings of conventional hair integration designsare overcome by an assembly for integrating hair obtained from anextrinsic source with natural hair extending from a wearer's scalp. Theassembly comprises:

-   -   (a) at least one resilient mesh bands extending substantially        laterally about the wearer's scalp, the laterally-extending mesh        band(s) having a multiplicity of extrinsic hair strands        independently fastened to and extending outwardly from the        laterally-extending mesh band(s);    -   (b) a plurality of resilient mesh bands extending substantially        longitudinally about the wearer's scalp from a first portion of        the laterally-extending mesh band to a location at the wearer's        crown region, the longitudinally-extending mesh bands being        fastened together at the wearer's crown region and having a        multiplicity of extrinsic hair strands independently fastened to        and extending outwardly from each of the        longitudinally-extending mesh bands.

The laterally-extending mesh band(s) and the longitudinally-extendingmesh bands are fastened together such that the wearer's natural hair canbe drawn from within openings formed between the mesh bands, therebyenabling the extrinsic hair extending from the mesh bands to beintegrated with the wearer's natural hair.

In a preferred embodiment, the first portion and second portions of thelaterally-extending mesh band(s) are located on opposite sides of thewearer's scalp. The laterally-extending mesh band(s) preferably comprisea plurality of laterally-extending mesh bands spaced apart from oneanother and in a parallel arrangement from the top of the wearer's headat, near or slightly behind the wearer's hairline.

A preferred hair integration assembly further comprises at least onelength of elastic material fastened to at least one of thelaterally-extending mesh band(s) and the longitudinally-extending meshbands. The length(s) of elastic material can be in the form of strandsor bands. The length(s) of elastic material are capable of securing theassembly to the wearer's scalp.

The length(s) of elastic material preferably comprise a plurality ofelastic material bands. Each of the elastic material bands is attachedto one of the laterally-extending mesh bands and thelongitudinally-extending mesh bands.

The mesh bands are preferably formed from a transparent material, butcould also be formed, less preferably, from an opaque material. Thepreferable material for the mesh bands is nylon.

In this description, the term “longitudinally” is intended to meanextending in a direction that is angled with respect to thelaterally-extending mesh band, and is therefore intended to encompassmesh bands and other structures that extend diagonally with respect tothe laterally-extending mesh band.

A method of producing an assembly for integrating a wearer's naturalhair with hair obtained from an extrinsic source comprises:

-   -   (a) extending one or more resilient mesh bands substantially        laterally about the wearer's scalp, the laterally-extending mesh        band having a multiplicity of extrinsic hair strands        independently fastened to and extending outwardly from the        laterally-extending mesh band;    -   (b) extending one or more mesh bands substantially        longitudinally about the wearer's scalp from a first portion of        the laterally-extending mesh band to a location at the wearer's        crown region, the longitudinally-extending mesh being fastened        together at the wearer's crown region, the        longitudinally-extending mesh having a multiplicity of extrinsic        hair strands independently fastened to and extending outwardly        from the at least one longitudinally-extending mesh band;    -   (c) fastening together the longitudinally-extending mesh bands        at the wearer's crown region, the longitudinally-extending mesh        bands having a multiplicity of extrinsic hair strands        independently fastened to and extending outwardly from each of        the longitudinally-extending mesh bands;    -   (d) fastening together the laterally-extending mesh band(s) and        the longitudinally-extending mesh bands such that the wearer's        natural hair can be drawn from within openings formed between        the mesh bands, thereby enabling the extrinsic hair extending        from the mesh bands to be integrated with the wearer's natural        hair.

In preferred embodiments of the foregoing method, the first portion andsecond portions of the laterally-extending mesh band(s) are located onopposite sides of the wearer's scalp. The laterally-extending meshband(s) can comprise a plurality of laterally-extending mesh bandsspaced apart from one another and in a parallel arrangement from thewearer's crown portion to the wearer's hairline.

The method preferably further comprises fastening at least one length ofelastic material to at least one of the laterally-extending mesh bandsand the longitudinally-extending mesh bands. The length(s) of elasticmaterial are capable of securing the assembly to the wearer's scalp.More preferably, the length(s) of elastic material comprises a pluralityof elastic material lengths, each of the elastic material lengthsattached to one of the laterally-extending mesh band(s) and thelongitudinally-extending mesh bands. The lengths of elastic material arecapable of securing the assembly to the wearer's scalp to provide morecomfort and flexibility to the assembly and to accommodate differenthead sizes of wearers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a front view of the present hair integration assembly shownmounted on a mannequin head.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the hair integration assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the hair integration assembly shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the hair integration assembly shown in FIGS.1-3.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the hair integration assembly shown in FIG. 4,further illustrating the openings through which the wearer's naturalhair is drawn.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mesh band component of the presenthair integration assembly, specifically showing the extrinsic hairstrands fastened to and extending outwardly from the mesh band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Turning first to FIG. 1, a mannequin head has a hair integrationassembly mounted on its crown. In this front view, the assembly includesa mesh band A extending laterally about a top portion of the mannequinhead. Although omitted for simplicity in FIG. 1, in actual practice, amultiplicity of hair strands obtained from an extrinsic source extendfrom mesh band A.

As further shown in FIG. 1, a pair of mesh bands C extend approximatelylongitudinally about the top portion of the mannequin head fromlocations on laterally-extending mesh band A. As with mesh band A, amultiplicity of hair strands obtained from an extrinsic source extendfrom mesh bands C in actual practice, but are omitted from FIG. 1 forsimplicity. Openings or interstices 1, 2, 3 are formed betweenlaterally-extending mesh band A and longitudinally-extending mesh bandsC. Natural hair of the wearer can be drawn through openings 1-3 andintegrated with the extrinsic hair extending from mesh bands A, C.

A hair clip (not shown) can be used to fasten mesh band A (and/or any ofthe other mesh bands) to the wearer's natural hair at, for example, alocation denoted by the arrow CL in FIG. 1.

In the top view shown in FIG. 2, a further laterally-extending mesh bandD extends about the mannequin head. A further mesh band B extendslongitudinally from one location on laterally-extending mesh band D toan oppositely-disposed location on mesh band D. A further mesh band Gextends downward longitudinally from a location on laterally-extendingmesh band D to a location (not visible in FIG. 2) on mesh band A. As inFIG. 1, openings or interstices 1-8 are formed between thelaterally-extending mesh bands A, D and the longitudinally-extendingmesh bands B, C. As in FIG. 1, natural hair of the wearer can be drawnthrough openings 1-8 and integrated with the extrinsic hair extendingfrom mesh bands A-D.

In the side view shown in FIG. 3, further laterally-extending mesh bandsE, F extend about the mannequin head. Further openings or interstices 9,11 are formed between the laterally-extending mesh bands E, F, A and thelongitudinally-extending mesh band G (not visible in FIG. 3). Naturalhair of the wearer can be drawn through openings 9, 11 and integratedwith the extrinsic hair extending from mesh bands E, F, A.

In the back view shown in FIG. 4, further openings or interstices 10, 12are formed between the laterally-extending mesh bands E, F, A and thelongitudinally-extending mesh band G. Natural hair of the wearer can bedrawn through each of the illustrated openings 4-12 and integrated withthe extrinsic hair extending from mesh bands A, C-G

In actual practice, a multiplicity of hair strands obtained from anextrinsic source extend from each of the mesh bands illustrated in FIGS.1-4, but are omitted for simplicity in those drawing figures. In FIG. 5,the wearer's natural hair NH is shown being drawn through opening 7shown in FIG. 4 for integration with the extrinsic hair extending fromlaterally-extending mesh band D, as well as from mesh bands E, F, A(extrinsic hair extending from mesh bands E, F, A omitted forsimplicity).

In FIG. 6, extrinsic hair strands EH are shown fastened to and extendingoutwardly from the mesh band D.

FIGS. 1-5 show that the size of the openings between the mesh bands issignificantly greater than in conventional cable-based hair integrationdesigns, thereby promoting ease of application and removal and reducingdamage to the wearer's natural hair. The present hair integrationassembly is made lighter and more comfortable by using nylon mesh bandsinstead of securing the extrinsic hair on cables. An overall morenatural look is achieved using the present nylon mesh assembly. The meshbands could also be formed from cotton or other mesh-forming resilientmaterial(s).

In the present hair integration assembly, a wider mesh base creates amore natural look; each piece of the nylon mesh band will be bonded onthe edges to make it stronger and more durable for the wearer, andprevents the assembly from unraveling. Increasing the space between thebands allows the wearer to pull his/her natural hair through withgreater ease, thereby reducing the tendency of the natural hair tobreak. This present design also promotes easy removal of the assemblyfrom the wearer's head.

The present hair integration assembly provides the following benefits:

-   -   (a) Allows the wearer to use more of his/her natural hair,    -   (b) Enhanced comfort,    -   (c) Minimal damage to natural hair both in applying and removing        the assembly,    -   (d) Can be styled and maintained at home, thereby decreasing the        number of trips required to the beauty salon and saving the        client time and money, and    -   (e) Can be made of extrinsic hair that is colorable to match the        wearer's hair.    -   (f) Provides comfort, flexibility, and accommodates different        head sizes of wearers.

While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the presentinvention have been shown and described, it will be understood, ofcourse, that the invention is not limited thereto since modificationscan be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure, particularly in light of the foregoingteachings.

1. An assembly for integrating hair obtained from an extrinsic sourcewith natural hair extending from a wearer's scalp, the assemblycomprising: (a) at least one resilient mesh band extending substantiallylaterally about the wearer's scalp, said at least onelaterally-extending mesh band having a multiplicity of extrinsic hairstrands independently fastened to and extending outwardly from said atleast one laterally-extending mesh band; (b) a plurality of resilientmesh bands extending substantially longitudinally about the wearer'sscalp from a first portion of said at least one laterally-extending meshband to a location at the wearer's crown region, saidlongitudinally-extending mesh bands being fastened together at thewearer's crown region and having a multiplicity of extrinsic hairstrands independently fastened to and extending outwardly from each ofsaid longitudinally-extending mesh bands, wherein said at least onelaterally-extending mesh band and said longitudinally-extending meshbands are fastened together such that the wearer's natural hair can bedrawn from within openings formed between said mesh bands, therebyenabling said extrinsic hair extending from said mesh bands to beintegrated with the wearer's natural hair.
 2. The hair integrationassembly of claim 1 wherein said first portion and second portions ofsaid at least one laterally-extending mesh band are located on oppositesides of the wearer's scalp.
 3. The hair integration assembly of claim 1wherein said at least on laterally-extending mesh band comprise aplurality of laterally-extending mesh bands spaced apart from oneanother and in a parallel arrangement from the wearer's crown portion tothe wearer's hairline.
 4. The hair integration assembly of claim 1further comprising at least one length of elastic material fastened toat least one of said laterally-extending mesh bands and saidlongitudinally-extending mesh bands, said at least one length of elasticmaterial capable of securing said assembly to the wearer's scalp.
 5. Thehair integration assembly of claim 4 wherein said at least one length ofelastic material comprises a plurality of elastic material strands, eachof said elastic material strands attached to one of saidlaterally-extending mesh bands and said longitudinally-extending meshbands.
 6. The hair integration assembly of claim 1 wherein said at leastone laterally-extending mesh band and said longitudinally-extending meshbands are formed from a transparent material.
 7. The hair integrationassembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one laterally-extending meshband and said longitudinally-extending mesh bands are formed from anopaque material.
 8. The hair integration assembly of claim 1 whereinsaid mesh bands are formed from nylon.
 9. A method of producing anassembly for integrating a wearer's natural hair with hair obtained froman intrinsic source, the method comprising: (a) extending at least oneresilient mesh band substantially laterally about the wearer's scalp,said at least one laterally-extending mesh band having a multiplicity ofextrinsic hair strands independently fastened to and extending outwardlyfrom said at least one laterally-extending mesh band; (b) extending aplurality of resilient mesh bands substantially longitudinally about thewearer's scalp from a first portion of said at least onelaterally-extending mesh band to a location at the wearer's crownregion; (c) fastening together said longitudinally-extending mesh bandsat the wearer's crown region, said longitudinally-extending mesh bandshaving a multiplicity of extrinsic hair strands independently fastenedto and extending outwardly from each of said longitudinally-extendingmesh bands; (d) fastening together said at least one laterally-extendingmesh band and said longitudinally-extending mesh bands such that thewearer's natural hair can be drawn from within openings formed betweensaid mesh bands, thereby enabling said extrinsic hair extending fromsaid mesh bands to be integrated with the wearer's natural hair.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 wherein said first portion and second portions of saidat least one laterally-extending mesh band are located on opposite sidesof the wearer's scalp.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein said at leastone laterally-extending mesh band comprise a plurality oflaterally-extending mesh bands spaced apart from one another and in aparallel arrangement from the wearer's crown portion to the wearer'shairline.
 12. The method of claim 9 further comprising fastening atleast one length of elastic material to at least one of saidlaterally-extending mesh bands and said longitudinally-extending meshbands, said at least one length of elastic material capable of securingsaid assembly to the wearer's scalp.
 13. The method of claim 12 whereinsaid at least one length of elastic material comprises a plurality ofelastic material lengths, each of said elastic material lengths attachedto one of said laterally-extending mesh bands and saidlongitudinally-extending mesh bands.
 14. The method of claim 9 whereinsaid at least one laterally-extending mesh band and saidlongitudinally-extending mesh bands are formed from a transparentmaterial.
 15. The method of claim 9 wherein said at least onelaterally-extending mesh band and said longitudinally-extending meshbands are formed from an opaque material.
 16. The method of claim 9wherein said mesh bands are formed from nylon.